PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kukuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kukuev
vs
Drago

198 cm
27
240 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

199 cm
21
270 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Russian Top Team Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kukuev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Axel Drago!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drago lands a left and a right that send Kukuev crashing to the mat, dazed. Drago thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Kukuev is rocked!

It looks like Nikolai Kukuev has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drago misses with a series of wild punches.
Oh Kukuev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sloppy strikes from Drago. Those never looked like landing.
Drago misses with a looping left.
Axel Drago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Drago misses.
Drago misses with a wild combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Drago misses the target.
Drago throws a nice looking combination but Kukuev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drago misses with a straight left.

Drago closes the distance and clinches.
Drago is stalling here.

Drago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kukuev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Drago misses with a wild combination.
Kukuev slips under a jab.
Drago throws a jab when Kukuev was well out of range.
Drago lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kukuev circles away quickly and effectively.
Drago throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kukuev.
Kukuev seems to have got his legs back now.
Kukuev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Drago tries to avoid it but Kukuev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Drago to the ground. Drago escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kukuev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Drago looks gassed!
Kukuev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drago's waist but Drago gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kukuev off to one side.
Kukuev shoots in for a double leg but Drago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Kukuev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Kukuev with that takedown attempt.
Drago throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukuev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Drago to the mat! Drago manages to get full guard.
Drago being controlled here, momentarily.
Kukuev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Drago keeping moving, preventing Kukuev from controlling successfully.
Kukuev tries to free his leg and advance position but Drago is retaining full guard.
Kukuev wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.
Drago is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikolai Kukuev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Drago lands with a nice combination. Kukuev backs away looking to recover.
Kukuev misses with a takedown attempt - Drago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Drago feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Kukuev sprawling to the canvas! Kukuev rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Drago finish him?!
Drago jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A swing and a miss from Drago.
A telegraphed right hand from Drago misses the target.
Some wild striking there from Drago.
Drago misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukuev shoots in but Drago avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kukuev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kukuev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Drago but Drago pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Drago lands a big right hand that sends Kukuev crashing to the mat! Drago stays standing though and waves Kukuev back to his feet!
Drago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kukuev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Drago cracks Kukuev with a left hook right on the temple and Kukuev goes down! He's out! Referee! Stop the fight! Drago lands a few more punches before the dopey ref steps in - hopefully Kukuev is OK!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Axel Drago!